This was very much not for me despite hoping it would be. The writing style was very jarring and I couldn't get on with it at all.

Rachel Hawkins (writing as Erin Sterling) delivers yet another enchanting, laugh-out-loud, and utterly spellbinding romance with The Wedding Witch. This whimsical blend of magic, mischief, and time-traveling Yuletide chaos is perfect for fans of cozy witchy romances and anyone who loves a bit of holiday magic with their happily-ever-after.

At its heart, The Wedding Witch follows Bowen Penhallow, a brooding and reclusive magic scholar, and Tamsyn Bligh, a quick-witted and morally flexible magical artifact dealer. Bowen, ever the loner, is reluctant to attend a high-profile witch wedding, but when his ghostly friend insists, he finds himself trapped in a predicament beyond his control. Tamsyn, meanwhile, sees the wedding as an opportunity to make one last big score—until fate (and a botched spell) throws her plans into delightful disarray.

The real fun begins when Bowen and Tamsyn are transported back in time to a grand Yuletide celebration in 1958, where they must navigate historical intrigue, suspicious witches, and their undeniable attraction. As they work together to return to their own time, their slow-burn chemistry is absolutely swoon-worthy, filled with witty banter and irresistible tension.

Sterling’s signature humor shines through every page, making this an effortlessly fun read while still delivering plenty of heart. The rich, gothic atmosphere of Tywyll House adds the perfect touch of eerie charm, and the mix of romance, adventure, and a touch of ghostly mystery makes this book impossible to put down.

With a perfect blend of magic, romance, and festive spirit, The Wedding Witch is a must-read for fans of The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse. Whether you love witchy rom-coms, time-travel hijinks, or holiday love stories with a paranormal twist, this one belongs on your TBR!

This was such a cute addition to this series! Tamysn is such a great MFC. I love a non problematic lead that’s independent and strong. She was definitely the reason why I kept reading. I also love a creepy mansion with the one bed/ forced proximity trope and enjoyed all the magical elements in this one. I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed it!

Y’all, The Wedding Witch is peak cozy, magical rom-com vibes, and I was OBSESSED. Erin Sterling once again delivers on the charm, the banter, and the swoony romance, and I devoured every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel!

The Wedding Witch is the third installment of the Graves Glen series, which follows three charming brothers who are descendants of the magical founders of a spooky town. Each book centers on a different brother as he struggles with some magical conundrum and finds romance along the way. I had fun reading the first installment of the series, The Ex Hex, but never got around to picking up the second book. When I saw that a third novel was coming out that was more Christmas themed and set in a new location, I was intrigued and wanted to give it a try. You don't need to read these in order, because they're all focused on different characters, but I would probably still recommend trying The Ex Hex first, because it introduces many of the side characters, along with the town of Graves Glen, so a couple of chapters in The Wedding Witch will be more impactful once you have that context. The Ex Hex is also much better than this one.

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. It follows Bowen, a witch who is trying to save his ghost friend through ancient magic. He hires Tamsyn, a human who collects and sells magical artifacts, to assist him. Tamsyn attends a wedding during Yule in hopes of finding a magical item for another buyer; unbeknownst to her, Bowen is also in attendance. One thing leads to another, and Tamsyn and Bowen are sent back to 1957 and must figure out what's wrong and how to return to the present day. There are a lot of moving pieces, but it's all extremely underdeveloped, with too many side characters and plot lines that don't impact the overarching story at all. I enjoyed The Ex Hex, because it was cute and festive, even if I found the plot and worldbuilding to be a bit thin. The Wedding Witch took all of the issues I had with The Ex Hex, amplified them, and then added unlikable characters on top of everything.

I'll start with the characters. Bowen is fine, but I've seen so many male love interests who are exactly like him: burly, tough around the edges, but actually nerdy and lovable underneath it all. The one unique thing about his character - the fact that he practices dark magic - is hardly ever mentioned, so I was never all that interested in him. Tamsyn, on the other hand, is less likable and still not developed enough. She is introduced as an unlikable character in The Ex Hex, and while we learn more about her personality and motivations in this book, she still annoyed me. I especially didn't like how she constantly made fun of Bowen and other side characters whenever they talked too much about something she found boring. Maybe if I learned more about her backstory, I would have warmed up to her. The side characters were okay, but a lot of them seemed to have similar personality traits, so they all blended together for me.

Not only were the characters hard for me to root for, but the romance was also not enjoyable. Bowen and Tamsyn meet for the first time in the prologue, but after that, we only get glimpses of their interactions over the next year through text messages, emails, and other electronic communications. The plot picks up one year after their initial encounter, so they both have developed feelings off-page. Even if there's an explanation for their strong emotions, it feels like instalove to readers. Like, not only are they attracted to each other, but they quickly jump to thinking they'll be together forever without having any real conversations about their relationship. I was not a fan. There are also more spicy scenes than in the first book, which is fine, but at the same time, the plot had fairly high stakes, and Bowen and Tamsyn seemingly could not care less about the fact that they might disappear from existence within days.

My biggest issue with the book is the time-travel plot. I would argue that it was completely unnecessary and actually took away from the story. I didn't mind the book during the first half, up until the two main characters were sent to the 1950s. After that, everything goes off the rails and nothing is ever fully explained. There are a bunch of side characters introduced who don't end up mattering, as well as a plot where Bowen and Tamsyn need to get Bowen's grandparents back together... only, they hardly ever spend any time actually talking to said grandparents. I won't include spoilers, but the mechanism that caused the time travel is not explained well, and the resolution makes zero sense. It opens up so very many plot holes that are never even touched upon by the conclusion. I'm not sure I've ever read a fantasy book with so many plot lines that are introduced, only to be explained away by magic in the end in such an unsatisfying manner. The plot of Tamsyn searching for an artifact while running into Bowen at a holiday wedding in a Welsh castle was good on its own. It didn't need a plethora of complications, unless the author was willing to take the time to fully develop all of those other plot lines - this book easily could have been 150+ pages longer.

Lastly, one other critique I wanted to mention is that this story also loses the atmosphere of the first and (I assume) second books, which are both set in Graves Glen. I liked the setting of Tywyll House and the coziness of the Welsh village, but I missed the lovely town that had already been developed. I imagine many readers who loved the first two books will be disappointed by this change. The new setting might have worked better if the book were more Christmas themed, but it really doesn't feel super seasonal at all. There's cold weather, numerous fireplaces, and some Yule activities, but the story is much more centered around the romance and time travel, with the holiday aspects barely present in the background. With some adjustments, the whole story could have taken place at a manor within Graves Glen, rather than needing a new setting altogether.

I genuinely considered rating this one star, but there are a couple of positives I couldn't discount. If you're looking for a purely steamy and cozy romance, this might work for you. There are some cute moments, especially if you're willing to not think too much about the time travel plot. It's also very easy to read, and the writing flows well. If you've already read the first two books, you can probably finish this in one sitting and might appreciate the references to the other installments (and the beginning and ending, which both show some returning characters). If you haven't read the other two stories, though, I would not recommend picking this up before those. There is just way too much going on, with more plot holes than I can count.

2 out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book but it was not my favorite of the series. I did like that it had witchy vibes but also tied in Christmas vibes as well. The time travel aspect was a fun change but the romance fell a little flat for me.

This was BY FAR my favorite of the Ex Hex series so far! Idk why but Bowen just really did it for me…. And the spice was top tier 🌶️ I also loved the time jumping aspect- i thought that was fun and clever and made the story more interesting. (I swear that bathtub scene will live rent free in my head forever!!) 4.5 ⭐️

Just not one I can get into at the moment. While I love the Graves Glen series for holiday times, it’s very hard for me to get into them unless it’s during those holidays specifically. And unfortunately that’s the case for this one as well. I think I will need to revisit come fall / Christmas time to make sure I am getting the most out of the experience.

The third book in this series and I laughed out loud just as much as the prior 2! I was sucked in from the get go! I dont know if there is more room in this series for the author but I hope she continues!

4 Stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

This was cute, but not as strong as its predecessors in my opinion! A bit cringe at times, and I wasn’t able to connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. Still would recommend though :)

I truly believe Erin Sterling can do no wrong, and this just proves me right. To the absolute surprise of no one, this is another HIT. The Wedding Witch is a charming, magical, and deliciously written romance. One of the easiest books to rave about.

It's books like this that remind me how much fun reading can be. There's something so charming about cozy witchy romance stories like this, and I think Erin Sterling does them particularly well. They contain a very specific magic and charm (no pun intended, except maybe a little pun intended) that gives me all the good feelings and makes for a wonderful time reading. Her writing style is also so easy to get into, and it stays engaging the whole way through.

Overall, you can't go wrong with Erin Sterling and you definitely can't go wrong with any of her books!

A light hearted funny story that will keep readers hooked as they anticipate what shenanigans Bowen will have to deal with next.

I am a sucker for Erin Sterlings witchy series! It was also a nice surprise when I found out it’s the same author as Rachel Hawkins?! Totally different energy and I think the witchy/supernatural era is my favorite. Not usually a fan of the instant love trope, but I loved it in this one! The time traveling aspect was also a lot of fun, with the sweetest happy ending 🥹 I really adored the Ex Hex series and I feel as if each book just got better and better!

A very well-done conclusion to this series. The second book in this series is still my favorite. I could reread that book over and over every year, but this would probably be my second favorite book in the series. I’m sad the series if over, but what a great finale.

The Wedding Witch is the perfect holiday read with its whimsy, witchy-ness, and holiday flare! Not to mention, of course, that it takes place in Wales, so is complete with fun Welsh language and idioms.

Bowen and Tamsyn are electric! They’re my favorite couple in the Graves Glen series, and that’s saying a lot because I adore The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse.

In the words of the best witchy cat in GG, this was a “TREEEEAT.”

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I will never not love an Erin Sterling book. I read all of the previous books in this series in one weekend so I was so excited to get a chance to read this one as an ARC.

This was the perfect holiday read & had all of the fun, mystery and romantic chemistry of the others. This will absolutely be a staple in my cozy holiday reads from now on :)

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon for the arc to read! :)

3.5⭐️

I liked the mix of witchy vibes during the holiday season. This was a fun time travel concept and I liked the way the romance progressed. Overall, I was a little meh about the story. It didn’t quite capture me as much as the first two, but I enjoyed it.

Love anything in this series from Erin Sterling, and hoping she writes more about these witches! I thought the inclusion of a former "villain" from the series as a main character was a fun twist, and The Wedding Witch nicely blended all things witchcraft with the Christmas season.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- NetGalley ARC

<b>Description:</b>
<b>Bowen Penhallow</b> has always been a loner, studying dark and ancient magic on a mountaintop in Wales. He prefers it that way. But when his friend Colin—who happens to be a ghost—asks him to attend a Yuletide wedding at a grand estate deep in the Welsh countryside, Bowen reluctantly agrees.

<b>Tamsyn Bligh</b> is not a witch, but she makes her living off of them. As a procurer and seller of magical items, Tamsyn’s business is not always above board, but she’s been trying to fix that (mostly.) Bowen is an occasional customer—as well as the star of several of Tamsyn’s dirtiest dreams—but she’s been around enough witches to know that, as a human, getting involved with one is not the smartest idea. She’s finagled an invite to the Witchy Wedding of the Century in the hopes of finally making a score big enough to retire. Just one priceless magical artifact from Tywyll House would set her up for life.

<b>Review:</b>
Tamsyn has no idea that Bowen is also at the wedding at Tywyll House and vice versa, until a chance run in with each other. They have no choice but to pretend that they’re a couple. During part of the wedding festivities a very strong spell combined with a wedding mishap transports Bowen and Tamsyn into Tywyll House’s past, to the Yuletide Celebration of 1958. As Bowen and Tamsyn work together to get back to the present, they must also deal with trying to blend in and not stick out by mentioning and doing things that would alert people that they’re from the future.

I’m so sad to see this series ending. The Penhallow brothers are some of my favorite book characters and the series was so well written. A perfect mix of romance, humor, and suspense for the perfect witchy autumn/winter read.

Thank you to NetGalley and for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.